Cab coupling



2` Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. HH. SGHAABF. GAR GOUPLING.

` Pen'ted May 29, 1883.

NOQ 278,605.

WITNBSSES .INVENTOR B fm ATTORNEYS.

(No Mdl.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

y C. H. SCHAAPF.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 278,605. Patented, May 29, 11883.V

NA Farms. mwuhompw; washing n. c.

45 g oar or plate, N, attached either to the car or UNITED STATES `Permit Urraca.

CHARLES H. SGHAAFF, OFALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent ,N o. 278,605, dated May 29, 1883,

` Application filed February 24, 1883. (No modeLll To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SGHAAFF, of Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria and State. ot Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, t'drming' partot this specification. l

The object of thisinvention is to provide an automatic coupling adapted for both passenger and freight cars, and also for coupling with cars of different heights; and the invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure lis a side elevation ot the coupling. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. Bpis an end view of the coupling, and Fig. 4 is a View showing means for uncouplinglrom the top of a freight-car. l

A indicates the draw-bar, and B B' are two strrups, connected by loop-bolts() to the under side, D, of a car, as supports t'or the drawbar. The outer end of the draw-bar is turned up to form an angular recess. in which astieel plate, E, is tted and secured in position by a bolt, F, arranged underneath the draw-bar and passed throughpertorated flanges G on the sides ot' the plate.

On the plate E is arranged a sliding hook, H, having a projection, I, atits inner end, which is adapted to drop behindthc inneredge of plate E when the hook is moved inward to its farthestv limit. The' hook is arranged between the sides of'a sliding frame or bumper,

J, and is connected. therewith, when not vin coupled position, by means ofgudgeons K, located at its sides, in alignment with the pro- 40 jection I, and recesses L, in the sides of the frame J, adapted to receive thegudgeons when the inner end of the hook is lit'ted out of engagement with the inner edge ot the plate E. The inner end of the frameJ is secured to a rod, M, which is adapted to slide in perforated the draw-bar, and the'inner end of this rod is ,provided with a head, which is to be drawn drawn outward until the projection I is brought to the outer end ofthe draw-bar, so that the hook will swing downward when in said position. When the hook isthus thrown from a horizontal to a pendent position the end O ot' the hook willbe in position to catch the link of the next adjacent car, whether said car is higher or lower than that carrying the hook. The outer end of the frame Jconsists of a flaring rim, P, which is adapted to guide the link into engagement with the hook,and also serves as a bearing by which the framed may be moved inward to carry the hook to coupled position'when the two cars are brought together.

To hold the hook securely in coupled position a gravity-cam, Q, is keyed to a shaft, Q', which is journaled in the sides of the stirrup B in such manner that the inward movement ot' the hook will rotate the cani out of its way until the inner end ot' the hook drops ,behindA latter trom being accidentally disengaged l'rom the edge ot' the plate E. The ends ofthe shat't Q' are provided with levers R, which are adapted to hang down with the cam, thus adding `weight to the latter, and by which the cars'are to be uncoupled from the sides.

1 have shown a spiral spring, S, arranged around the rod M and. between the inner end.

ofthe frame J and the plateN, to prevent the sliding frame from being pushed inward accidentally, and thus thrown out ot' position for automatic coupling. not essential. The outer1 end ot' the rod also I have shown inclined downward at T. The object of this is to provide an incline which will be drawn under the inner end of the hook in the act of uncoupling to lift the hook and thus facilitate its disengagement from the inner edge of the plate E.

t Ugis a bar or block bolted to the car just The spring, however, is'

above the inner end ot' the link, to'take the wear caused by any upward movementof the link. To hold the link in proper position for coupling, the hook is providedwith lateral projections V atrits outer end, upon -which the link is supported.

IOO

The stirrup B, which supports the outer end of the draw-bar, is made Wide to accommodate the daring outer end of frame J, while the stir'- rup B is contracted at its upper part, to provide a guide for the inner end of frame J and to prevent the link-from beingjammed against the cam, and thus moving it out ot' engagement With the hook.

In adapting my coupling to freight-cars, besides the levers R at the sides, I provide a lever, R', extending from the shaft Q', and connect the end of said lever, by means ot' a rod or chain, S, to a lever, T, which is pivoted to the upper part of a car, U', in such manner that its free end shall extend from said cur With this construction, the braheman may stand or kneel on acar attached to a train and reach the lever and uncouple a car in rear of the one he rests on, thus avoidingthe danger of uncoupling a car and then jumping torward onto the moving train. For passenger- 'cars a chain may be connected to the lever R',

and to a rotary crank-rod adapted to lift the cam out of engagement with the hook.

It is understood that the cars are` to be prolvided with suitable bumpers to limit the action of the impact of two cars upon the sliding frames carrying the coupling-hooks.

1. The combination of the sliding hook havingmeaus for enga-ging with a part of the draw-bar when movedinward, the sliding frame carrying the hook and adapted to hold the same in a pendent position at the end of the draw-bar, whereby it may reach and couple with a link, and a cam for holding the hook in engagement with the, draw-bar after the link has been coupled with the hook, substantially as shown and described. l.

A2. The combination ofthe sliding hook having a projection atits inner end adapted to drop behind a shoulder in the draw-bar and to regulate the movement of the hook and to allow'it to swing into a pendentposition when drawn to the end of the draw-bar, the drawbar having the plate adapted to form a shoulder at its inner end for engaging the hook, and the gravity-cam for holding the hook in engagement With'said shoulder, substantially as shown and described. v

ed to enga-ge with the draw-bar, the sliding frame carrying said hook and adapted to hold it in-a pendent position at the end ot the drawbar, and the rod connectedto the inner end of said frame and adapted to slide in a stop-plate to limit the outward movement Vof the frame, and having its outer end inclined downward under the inner end of the hook, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination ofthe sliding hook having lateral projections at'its outer end to supporta link placed in engagement With the hook, the sliding frame carrying said hook, and the cam for holding the hook in engagement with the draw-bar, substantially as shown and described. t

5. The combination, with the sliding hook and its carrying-frame, and with the cam, of a lever pivoted to one end of a car and extendved from said car, so that it may be operated from the next adjacent car, and a rod for connecting said lever with a lever or arm on the cam-shaft, substantiallj7 as shown and described, a nd for the purpose set forth.

oHAs. H. scHAAFF.

Witnesses:

CHARLEs E. STUART,

SAML. G. BRENT.

having gudgeons at its sides,the sliding frame having bearings in its sides forsaid gudgeons 3. Thecombinationoftheslidinghook adapt- 

